Imidazo compounds

ABSTRACT

The application relates to novel heterocyclic compounds of the general formula (I) and salts, preferably pharmaceutically acceptable salts, thereof in which R, R 1 , R 2 , Q, m and n have the meanings explained in detail in the description, a process for their preparation and the use of these compounds as medicaments, in particular as aldosterone synthase inhibitors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds, processes for preparing the compounds, pharmaceutical products containing them, and their use as active pharmaceutical ingredients, especially as aldosterone synthase inhibitors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates firstly to compounds of the general formula

in which R is deuterium, halogen or hydrogen; R¹ is aryl-C₀-C₄-alkyl or heterocyclyl-C₀-C₄-alkyl, which radicals may be substituted by 1-4 C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₈ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted aryl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, oxide, oxo, tri-C₁-C₄-alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl; R² is a) deuterium, halogen, hydroxy, cyano or hydrogen; or

-   -   b) C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₄         alkoxycarbonyl-C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₄ alkylcarbonyl,         aryl-C₀-C₄ alkyl, carboxy-C₀-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl or         heterocyclyl-C₀-C₄ alkyl, which radicals may be substituted by         1-4 C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₈         alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted         aryl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, optionally         substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, oxide, oxo, tri-C₁-C₄         alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl;         Q is oxygen or sulphur;         m is a number 0, 1 or 2;         n is a number 0, 1 or 2;         where         m and n are not simultaneously 0;         and their salts, preferably their pharmaceutically acceptable         salts.

The term aryl stands for a mono-, bi- or tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon complying with the Hückel rule which generally comprises 6-14, preferably 6-10, carbon atoms and is for example phenyl, naphthyl, e.g. 1- or 2-naphthyl or anthracenyl. Aryl having 6-10 carbon atoms, in particular phenyl or 1- or 2-naphthyl, is preferred. The stated radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted one or more times, e.g. once or twice, in which case the substituent may be in any position, e.g. in the o, m or p position of the phenyl radical or in the 3 or 4 position of the 1- or 2-naphthyl radical, and there may also be a plurality of identical or different substituents present. Examples of substituents on aryl radicals or the preferred phenyl or naphthyl radicals are: C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₈ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted aryl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, tri-C₁-C₄ alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl.

Aryl-C₀-C₄ alkyl is for example phenyl, naphthyl or benzyl.

The term heterocyclyl stands for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 4-8-membered, particularly preferably 5-membered, monocyclic ring system, for a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated, 7-12-membered, particularly preferably 9-10-membered, bicyclic ring system and also for a partially saturated or unsaturated, 9-12-membered tricyclic ring system which comprises an N, O or S atom in at least one of the rings, it being possible for an additional N, O or S atom to be present in one ring. Said radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted one or more times, e.g. once or twice, and there may also be a plurality of identical or different substituents present. Examples of substituents on heterocyclyl radicals are: C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₈ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted aryl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, oxide, oxo, tri-C₁-C₄ alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl.

Saturated heterocyclyl-C₀-C₄ alkyl is for example azepanyl, azetidinyl, aziridinyl, 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidinyl, 2,6-dimethylmorpholinyl, 3,5-dimethylmorpholinyl, dioxanyl, [1,4]dioxepanyl, dioxolanyl, 4,4-dioxothiomorpholinyl, dithianyl, dithiolanyl, 2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidinyl, 4-hydroxypiperidinyl, 3-hydroxypyrrolidinyl, 4-methylpiperazinyl, 1-methyl-piperidinyl, 1-methylpyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, oxathianyl, oxepanyl, 2-oxo-azepanyl, 2-oxo-imidazolidinyl, 2-oxo-oxazolidinyl, 2-oxo-piperidinyl, 4-oxo-piperidinyl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidinyl, 2-oxo-tetrahydropyrimidinyl, 4-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, thiepanyl or thiomorpholinyl.

Partially saturated bicyclic heterocyclyl-C₀-C₄ alkyl is for example 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1,4]oxazinyl, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzofuranyl or 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzothiazolyl.

Unsaturated bicyclic heterocyclyl-C₀-C₄ alkyl is for example benzofuranyl, benzoimidazolyl, benzo[d]isothiazolyl, benzo[d]isoxazolyl, benzo[b]thiophen, quinolinyl, imidazo[1,5-a]pyridinyl, indazolyl, indolyl or isoquinolinyl.

Unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclyl-C₀-C₄ alkyl is for example imidazolyl, oxazolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, tetrazolyl, thiazolyl or thiophenyl.

C₂-C₈ alkenyl is for example ethenyl, propenyl, isopropenyl, butenyl, isobutenyl, secondary butenyl, tertiary butenyl, or a pentenyl, hexenyl or heptenyl group.

C₂-C₈ alkynyl is for example ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, or a pentynyl, hexynyl or heptynyl group.

C₁-C₈ alkoxy is for example C₁-C₅ alkoxy such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy, secondary butoxy, tertiary butoxy or pentoxy, but may also be a hexoxy or heptoxy group.

C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl is preferably C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxy-carbonyl, propoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, butoxycarbonyl, isobutoxycanbonyl, secondary butoxycarbonyl or tertiary butoxycarbonyl.

C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl-C₁-C₄ alkyl is for example methoxycarbonylmethyl or ethoxycarbonyl-methyl, 2-methoxycarbonylethyl or 2-ethoxycarbonylethyl, 3-methoxycarbonylpropyl or 3-ethoxycarbonylpropyl or 4-ethoxycarbonylbutyl.

C₁-C₈ alkyl may be straight-chain or branched and/or bridged and is for example methyl, ethyl; propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, secondary butyl, tertiary butyl, or a pentyl, hexyl or heptyl group.

C₀-C₈ alkylcarbonyl is for example formyl, acetyl, propionyl, propylcarbonyl, isopropyl-carbonyl, butylcarbonyl, isobutylcarbonyl, secondary butylcarbonyl or tertiary butylcarbonyl.

Carboxy-C₁-C₄ alkyl is for example carboxymethyl, 2-carboxyethyl, 2- or 3-carboxypropyl, 2-carboxy-2-methylpropyl, 2-carboxy-2-ethylbutyl, or 4-carboxybutyl, in particular carboxy-methyl.

C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl is preferably 3-, 5- or 6-membered cycloalkyl, such as cyclopropyl, cyclo-pentyl, cyclohexyl.

Halogen is for example fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.

The compound groups mentioned below are not to be regarded as closed; on the contrary, parts of these compound groups may be replaced by one another or by the definitions given above, or be omitted, in a meaningful way, e.g. to replace general by more specific definitions. The definitions mentioned apply within the scope of general chemical principles such as, for example, the usual valencies of atoms.

R is preferably deuterium or hydrogen.

R¹ is preferably aryl, very particularly preferably mono-, di- or tri-substituted phenyl, or heterocyclyl, very particularly preferably optionally mono-, di- or tri-substituted benzofuranyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, benzoimidazolyl, benzo[d]isothiazolyl, benzo[d]isoxazolyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, imidazolyl, indazolyl, indolyl, oxazolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl or thiophenyl. R² is preferably C₁-C₈ alkoxy, hydroxy, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkyl, deuterium, halogen, cyano or hydrogen. n is preferably a number 0 or 1. n is particularly preferably the number 1. m is particularly preferably the number 1.

Preferred substituents for aryl or heterocyclyl are C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl-carbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted aryl, cyano, halogen, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, nitro, oxide, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy or trimethylsilanyl. Very particularly preferred substituents for aryl or heterocyclyl are acetyl, bromine, chlorine, cyano, fluorine, methanesulphonyl, methoxy, nitro, oxazolyl, oxide, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted tetrazolyl, optionally substituted thiazolyl or optionally substituted thiophenyl.

It is likewise preferred for R¹ to be a mono-, di- or tri-substituted unsaturated heterocyclyl substituent, where the substituents are preferably selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl, C₀-C₈ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted aryl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, oxide, oxo, tri-C₁-C₄ alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy and trifluoro-methyl.

Particularly preferred compounds of the formula (I) are those of the general formula (Ia) and salts, preferably pharmaceutically acceptable salts, thereof,

in which R, R¹, R², Q, m and n have the meanings indicated above for compounds of the formula (I), and where the above preferences apply analogously. * designates an asymmetric carbon atom.

The compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) which possess at least one asymmetric carbon atom can exist in the form of optically pure enantiomers, mixtures of enantiomers, or racemates. Compounds having a second asymmetric carbon atom can exist in the form of optically pure diastereomers, mixtures of diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, mixtures of diastereomeric racemates, or meso compounds. The invention embraces all of these forms. Mixtures of enantiomers, racemates, mixtures of diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, or mixtures of diastereomeric racemates can be fractionated by conventional methods, such as by racemate resolution, column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, HPLC and the like.

The compounds of the formula (Ia) have at least one asymmetric carbon atom, which is labelled “*”. A compound of the formula (Ia) is to be understood as a compound having a specific configuration around the designated asymmetric carbon atom. If a synthesis method is used which leads to racemic compounds, the racemate resolution is carried out in accordance with conventional methods, such as via a chiral HPLC column. Compounds of the formula (Ia) as described in the present invention exhibit a pronounced aldosterone synthase and/or 11-β-hydroxylase inhibitory activity and a low aromatase inhibitory activity. The aforementioned aromatase inhibitory activity can, as the skilled worker is well aware and as described below, be comfortably determined using the commercial Cyp19 enzyme inhibition kit, preferably the Cyp19/methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin (MFC) high throughput inhibition kit (Becton Dickinson Biosciences, San Jose, Calif., USA) as described hereafter. In the abovementioned inhibition kit, compounds of the formula (Ia) show an activity which is at least 10 times lower preferably 20 times lower, but more preferably 40 times lower than the compounds of the formula (Ia) with the opposite configuration around the asymmetric carbon atom labelled “*”. A lower inhibiting activity corresponds to a higher IC₅₀ value.

Example of CYP19 inhibition:

Example number IC50 value [nM] 18 8346.3 antipode of 18 4.8

The expression “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” embraces salts with organic or inorganic acids, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, formic acid, maleic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, methane-sulphonic acid, p-toluenesulphonic acid and the like. Salts of compounds containing salt-forming groups are, in particular, acid addition salts, salts with bases or else, if appropriate, if two or more salt-forming groups are present, are mixed salts or inner salts.

The compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) can be prepared in an analogous manner to the preparation processes disclosed per se in the literature (1H-imidazol-4-yl)methanol by conversion into methyl (1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)acetate followed by a Grignard addition, subsequent reduction (or vice versa) and ring closure (Scheme I).

Alternatively, the compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) can be obtained in an analogous manner to the preparation processes disclosed per se in the literature starting from hydroxyphenylaceticacid derivatives by reaction with (1H-imidazol-4-yl)methanols followed by a reduction and subsequent ring closure (Scheme II).

The compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) which are tetrasubstituted can be obtained in ah analogous manner to the preparation processes disclosed per se in the literature starting from suitably substituted 2-aminoethanols which can be converted, e.g. in analogy to org. Lett 7 (5), (2005) pp. 937-939, into 5-spiromorpholin-3-ones, which are then converted, e.g. in analogy to the process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,597, into compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) (Scheme III).

Details of the specific preparation variants can be found in the examples.

The compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) can also be prepared in optically pure form. Separation into antipodes is possible by methods known per se, either, preferably, at an early stage in synthesis, by salt formation with an optically active acid such as, for example, (+)- or (−)-mandelic acid and separation of the diastereomeric salts by fractional crystallization, or, preferably, at a fairly late stage, by derivatization with a chiral auxiliary component, such as, for example, (+)- or (−)-camphanyl chloride and separation of the diastereomeric products by chromatography and/or crystallization and subsequent cleavage of the bond to the chiral auxiliary. The pure diastereomeric salts and derivatives can be analysed to determine the absolute configuration of the compound present, using customary spectroscopic methods, with single-crystal X-ray spectroscopy representing one particularly appropriate method.

Salts are primarily the pharmaceutically acceptable or non-toxic salts of compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia). Such salts are formed for example by compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) containing an acidic group, such as a carboxyl or sulpho group and are, for example, salts thereof with suitable bases, such as non-toxic metal salts derived from metals of group Ia, Ib, IIa and IIb of the Periodic Table of the Elements; such as alkali metal salts, especially lithium, sodium or potassium salts, alkaline earth metal salts, magnesium or calcium salts for example, and also zinc salts or ammonium salts, and additionally salts formed with organic amines, such as unsubstituted or hydroxyl-substituted mono-, di- or trialkylamines, especially mono-, di- or tri-lower alkylamines, or with quaternary ammonium bases, e.g. methyl-, ethyl-, diethyl- or triethylamine, mono-, bis- or tris(2-hydroxyl-lower alkyl)amines, such as ethanol-amine, diethanolamine or triethanolamine, tris(hydroxylmethyl)methylamine or 2-hydroxyl-tertiary-butylamine, N,N-di-lower alkyl-N-(hydroxyl-lower alkyl)amine, such as N,N-di-N-dimethyl-N-(2-hydroxylethyl)amine, or N-methyl-D-glucamine, or quaternary ammonium hydroxides, such as tetrabutylammonium hydroxide. The compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) containing a basic group, such as an amino group, can form acid addition salts, with suitable inorganic acids for example, such as hydrohalic acid, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, or sulphuric acid with replacement of one or both protons, phosphoric acid with replacement of one or more protons, orthophosphoric acid or metaphosphoric acid for example, or pyrophosphoric acid with replacement of one or more protons, or with organic carboxylic, sulphonic or phosphonic acids or N-substituted sulphamic acids, e.g. acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, hydroxylmaleic acid, methylmaleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, glucaric acid, glucuronic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, 2-phenoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, embonic acid, nicotinic acid, isonicotinic acid, and also amino acids, such as the α-amino acids specified earlier on, and also methane-sulphonic acid, ethanesulphonic acid, 2-hydroxylethanesulphonic acid, ethane-1,2-disulphonic acid, benzenesulphonic acid, 4-toluenesulphonic acid, naphthalene-2-sulphonic acid, 2- or 3-phosphoglycerate, glucose 6-phosphate, N-cyclohexylsulphamic acid (to form cyclamates), or with other acidic organic compounds, such as ascorbic acid. Compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) containing acidic and basic groups can also form inner salts.

Isolation and purification can also be carried out using pharmaceutically unsuitable salts.

The compounds of the formula (I) or (Ia) also include those compounds in which one or more atoms have been replaced by their stable, non-radioactive isotopes: for example, a hydrogen atom by deuterium.

Prodrug derivatives of the presently described compounds are derivatives thereof which when employed in vivo release the original compound as a result of a chemical or physiological process. A prodrug may be converted into the original compound, for example, when a physiological pH is reached or as a result of enzymatic conversion. Examples of possible prodrug derivatives include esters of freely available carboxylic acids, S- and O-acyl derivatives of thiols, alcohols or phenols, the acyl group being defined as above. Preference is given to pharmaceutically useful ester derivatives which are converted by solvolysis in physiological medium into the original carboxylic acid, such as, for example, lower alkyl esters, cycloalkyl esters, lower alkenyl esters, benzyl esters, mono- or disubstituted lower alkyl esters, such as lower ω-(amino, mono- or dialkylamino, carboxyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl)-alkyl esters or such as lower α-(alkanoyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl or dialkylaminocarbonyl)alkyl esters; pivaloyloxymethyl esters and similar esters are conventionally used as ester derivatives of this kind.

Because of the close relationship between a free compound, a prodrug derivative and a salt compound, a defined compound in this invention also includes its prodrug derivative and salt form, insofar as this is possible and appropriate.

Aldosterone is a steroidal hormone which is synthesized in the zona glomerulosa cells of the adrenal cortex by the enzyme aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2). Aldosterone production and secretion is regulated by the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), angiotensin II, potassium and sodium ions. The primary biological function of aldosterone is the regulation of the salt balance, with aldosterone controlling the reabsorption of sodium ions from the renal filtrate and the secretion of potassium ions into the renal filtrate. The state of excessive aldosterone secretion, also called hyperaldosteronism, can lead to high blood pressure, hypokalemia, alkalosis, muscle weakness, polyuria, polydipsia, oedemas, vasculitis, increased collagen formation, fibrosis and endothelial dysfunction.

The chemical compounds described in this invention inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzyme aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) and can therefore be used to treat states induced by aldosterone. The compounds described can be employed for preventing, for delaying the progression of or treating states such as hypokalaemia, hypertension, congestive heart failure, acute and—in particular—chronic renal failure, cardiovascular restenosis, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome (syndrome X), adiposity (obesity), vasculitis, primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism, nephropathy, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, increased collagen formation, fibrosis, vascular and coronary tissue changes (remodelling) secondary to high bipod pressure, endothelial dysfunction, and oedemas secondary to cirrhosis, nephrosis and congestive heart failure.

Cortisol is a steroidal hormone which is synthesized almost exclusively in the zona fasciculata cells of the adrenal cortex by the cytochrome P450 enzyme 11-β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1). Cortisol production is regulated by ACTH. The primary biological function of cortisol is to regulate the production and the provision of carbohydrates for the brain and other metabolically active tissues. Increased Cortisol production and secretion is a normal physiological response to stress and leads to the essential mobilization of fats, proteins and carbohydrates to cover increased physical energy demand. Chronically excessive Cortisol release describes the condition of Cushing's syndrome. Cushing's syndrome may come about on the one hand as a result of Cortisol hypersynthesis, which may be generated by an adrenocortical tumour, or on the other hand as the consequence of excessive stimulation of the adrenal cortex by ACTH. The first form is referred to as primary hypercortisolism, the second form as secondary hypercortisolism. An excessive and persistent Cortisol secretion may also accompany a stress response, which can lead to depression and the suppression of the immune system.

The chemical compounds described in this invention inhibit the enzyme 11-β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) and may therefore, owing to the inhibition of Cortisol synthesis, be employed for preventing, for delaying the progression of or treating Cushing's syndrome and also the physical and mental consequences of excessive and persistent Cortisol secretion in states of stress.

The inhibition of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), as well as 11-β-hydroxylase (Cyp11B1) and aromatase (Cyp19) by herein described compounds may be measured by the following in vitro assay.

The cell line NCI-H295R was originally derived from an adrenal carcinoma and was sub-sequently characterized in the literature for the inducible secretion of steroidal hormones and the presence of the key enzymes necessary for steroidogenesis. These include Cyp11A (cholesterol side-chain cleavage), Cyp11B1 (steroid 11β-hydroxylase), Cyp11B2 (aldo-sterone synthase), Cyp17 (steroid 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20 lyase), Cyp19 (aromatase), Cyp21B2 (steroid 21-hydroxylase) and 3β-HSD (hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase). The cells have the physiological characteristics of zonally undifferentiated human fetal adrenal cells, with the ability to produce the steroid hormones of each of the three phenotypically distinct zones found in the adult adrenal cortex.

The NCI-H295R cells (American Type Culture Collection, ATCC, Rockville, Md., USA) are cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle'Ham F-12 medium (DME/F12) that is supplemented with Ultroser SF serum (Soprachem, Cergy-Saint-Christbphe, France) as well as insulin, transferrin, selenite (I-T-S, Becton Dickinson Biosiences, Franklin Lakes, N.J., USA) and antibiotics in 75 cm² cell culture flasks at a temperature of 37° C. and a 95% air/5% CO₂ humidified atmosphere. The cells are subsequently transferred to a 24-well plate and seeded in the presence of DME/F12 medium that is supplemented with 0.1% bovine serum albumin instead of Ultroser SF serum. The experiment is initiated by incubating the cells for 72 hours in DME/F12 medium supplemented with 0.1% bovine serum albumin and test compounds in the presence of cell stimulatory agents. The test compound is added in a concentration range of 0.2 nanomolar to 20 micromolar. Angiotensin-II (e.g. at 10 or 100 nanomolar con-centration), potassium ions (e.g. at 16 millimolar), forskolin (e.g. at 10 micromolar) or a combination of two agents may serve as cell-stimulatory agents. The cellular secretion of aldosterone, Cortisol, corticosterone and estradiol/estrone into the cell culture medium can be quantitatively assessed with commercially available radioimmunoassays and specific anti-bodies (e.g. Diagnostics Products Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The degree of secretion of a selective steroid is used as a measure of enzyme activity, respectively enzyme inhibition, in the presence or absence of a test compound. The dose-dependent enzyme inhibitory activity of a compound is reflected in an inhibition curve that is characterized by an IC₅₀ value. The IC₅₀ values for active test compounds are generated by simple linear regression analysis to establish inhibition curves without data weighting. The inhibition curve is generated by fitting a 4-parameter logistic function to the raw data of the samples using the least squares approach. The function is described as follows: Y=(d−a)/((1+(x/c)^(−b))+a) with: a=minimum b=slope c=IC₅₀ d=maximum x=inhibitor concentrations

The compounds of the present invention show in the herein described in vitro test systems inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values for aldosterone synthesis inhibition ranging from 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻¹⁰ mol/l, and IC₅₀ values for Cortisol synthesis inhibition ranging from 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻¹⁰ mol/l.

Additionally, the in vitro inhibition of aromatase activity of the compounds of the present invention can be demonstrated by using a commercial Cyp19 enzyme inhibition kit. The Cyp19/methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin (MFC) high throughput inhibition kit (Becton Dickinson Biosciences, San Jose, Calif., USA), for example, is designed to screen for potential inhibitors of Cyp19 catalytic activity in a 96-well format. The kit includes recombinant human Cyp19 enzyme in the form of supersomes, a fluorescent P450 substrate, an NADPH regenerating system, a reaction buffer and a stop reagent. MFC, the fluorogenic substrate is rapidly converted by Cyp19 supersomes to the highly fluorescent product 7-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin (7-HFC). The execution of the assay in the presence of various concentrations of inhibitor compounds ranging from 0.2 nanomolar to 20 millimolar occurs according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The inhibition curve is generated by fitting a 4-parameter logistic function to the raw data of the samples using the least squares approach. The function is described as follows: Y=(d−a)/((1+(x/c)^(−b))+a) with: a=minimal data values b=slope c=IC₅₀ d=maximal data values x=inhibitor concentrations

The aldosterone- and corticosterone-suppressing activity of herein described compounds may be assessed with the following in vivo protocol.

Adult male Wistar rats weighing between 250 and 350 grams are kept under the usual 12 hour light and 12 hour dark conditions at a temperature of 23° C.±2° C. On the first day of the experiment, the animals receive a subcutaneous injection of a depot ACTH product in a dose of 1.0 mg/kg weight (SYNACTHEN-Depot, Novartis, Basel, CH) 16 hours prior to the administration of a test compound. Pilot studies showed that this ACTH dose significantly increased plasma aldosterone and corticosterone levels by 5- to 20-fold over a period of at least 18 hours. An alternative method to stimulate aldosterone secretion consists in subjecting rats to a low salt diet for 48 hours and applying the diuretic furosemide at 10 mg/kg by subcutaneous or intraperitoneal administration 16 hours, respectively 2 hours prior to the start of the experiment. On the second day of the experiment, the animals are divided into test groups of 5 animals and subjected to a first bleed 1 hour prior to the administration of test compound. Subsequently, and 16 hours after the injection of the ACTH product, the animals receive either vehicle or test compound dissolved in vehicle in a variable dose range from 0.02 to 20 mg/kg by oral gavage. The animals are bled two more times from the vena subclavia under isoflurane anaesthesia 2 and 6 hours after dosing. The blood is collected in heparin-treated tubes. The plasma samples are obtained by centrifugation and stored at −20° C. An alternative method to bleed animals time-dependently consists in using animals that are chronically carotid catheterized which allows the periodical sampling of up to 0.2 ml of blood using an AccuSampler (DiLab Europe, Lund, Sweden). The blood sampling with the AccuSampler may occur 1 hour prior to the administration of a test compound and 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 24 hours thereafter. The blood samples are anticoagulated with heparin and centrifuged. The aldosterone and corticosterone concentrations of the plasma samples can be determined with a radioimmunoassay as described above for the in vitro test systems.

The selective suppression of plasma steroid levels as for instance aldosterone in comparison to corticosterone may serve as a measure for in vivo bioavailability and pharmacodynamic enzyme inhibitory activity of the herein described compounds. The evaluation of the data may occur relative to the application of vehicle or quantitatively by determination of the area under the curve (AUG).

Examples of suppression of aldosterone and corticosterone levels:

Compound of Dose Aldosterone levels Corticosterone levels Example (mg/kg p.o.) (% change⁺ at 2 h) (% change⁺ at 2 h) 14 4 −58 −7 16 4 −67 −9 ⁺The resulting changes in plasma aldosterone, respectively corticosterone, levels upon oral administration of a test compound are expressed as percent (%) change that is defined by the ratio of the [(plasma steroid level 2 hours after compound administration) − (plasma steroid level 1 hour prior to compound administration)] divided by (plasma steroid level 1 hour prior to compound administration).

In order to achieve the desired effects in a patient to be treated, the compounds of the pre-sent invention can be administered orally or enterally, such as, for example, intravenously, intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, rectally, subcutaneously or else by direct injection of the active substance locally into tissues or tumours. The term patient encompasses warm-blooded species and mammals such as, for example, human, primate, bovine, dog, cat, horse, sheep, mouse, rat and pig. The compounds can be administered as pharmaceutical product or be incorporated into an administration device which ensures sustained release of the compound. The amount of substance to be administered can vary over a wide range and represent every effective dose. Depending on the patient to be treated or the condition to be treated and mode of administration, the dose of the effective substance each day can be between about 0.005 and 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, but is preferably between about 0.05 and 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight each day.

For oral administration, the compounds can be formulated in solid or liquid pharmaceutical forms such as, for example, as capsules, pills, tablets, coated tablets, granules, powders, solutions, suspensions or emulsions. The dose of a solid pharmaceutical form can be one usual hard gelatine capsule which may be filled with active ingredients and excipients such as lubricants and fillers, such as, for example, lactose, sucrose and maize starch: Another form of administration may be represented by tableting of the active substance of the present invention. The tableting can take place with conventional tableting excipients such as, for example; lactose, sucrose, maize starch; combined with binder from gum acacia, maize starch or gelatine, disintegrants such as potato starch or crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVPP) and lubricants such as stearic acid or magnesium stearate.

Examples of excipients suitable for soft gelatine capsules are vegetable oils, waxes, fats, semisolid and liquid polyols etc.

Examples of excipients suitable for producing solutions and syrups are water, polyols, sucrose, invert sugar, glucose etc.

For rectal administration, the compounds can be formulated in solid or liquid pharmaceutical forms such as, for example, suppositories. Examples of excipients suitable, for suppositories are natural or hardened oils, waxes, fats, semiliquid or liquid polyols etc.

For parenteral administration, the compounds can be formulated as injectable dosage of the active ingredient in a liquid or suspension. The preparations usually comprise a physiologically tolerated sterile solvent which may comprise a water-in-oil emulsion; with or without surfactant, and other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. Oils which can be used for such preparations are paraffins and triglycerides of vegetable; animal or synthetic origin, such as, for example, peanut oil, soya oil and mineral oil. Injectable solutions generally comprise liquid carriers such as, preferably, water, saline, dextrose or related sugar solutions, ethanol and glycols such as propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol.

The substances may be administered as transdermal patch system, as depot injection or implant if the formulation makes sustained delivery of the active ingredient possible. The active substance can be compressed as granules or to narrow cylinders and be administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly as depot injection or implant.

The pharmaceutical products may in addition also comprise preservatives, solubilizers, viscosity-increasing substances, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, sweeteners, colorants, aromatizing agents, salts to change the osmotic pressure, buffers, coating agents or antioxidants. They may also comprise other therapeutically valuable substances too.

The compounds of the invention described herein permit the following methods of use:

-   -   as therapeutic combination in the form of a product or of a kit         which is composed of individual components consisting of a         compound described herein, in free form or as pharmaceutically         acceptable salt, and at least one pharmaceutical form whose         active ingredient has a blood pressure-lowering, an inotropic,         an antidiabetic, an obesity-reducing or a lipid-lowering effect,         which can be used either simultaneously or sequentially. The         product and the kit may comprise instructions for use.     -   as method for combined use, such as, for example, in         simultaneous or sequential succession, of a therapeutically         effective amount of a compound described herein, in free or in         pharmaceutically acceptable salt form, and of a second active         ingredient with blood pressure-lowering, inotropic,         antidiabetic, obesity-reducing or lipid-lowering effect.

The compounds described herein and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be used in combination with

(i) one or more blood pressure-lowering active ingredients, as such for example:

-   -   renin inhibitors such as aliskiren;     -   angiotensin II receptor blockers such as candesartan,         irbesartan, olmesartan, losartan, valsartan, telmisartan etc.;     -   ACE inhibitors such as quinapril, ramipril, trandolapril,         lisinopril, captopril, enalapril etc.;     -   calcium antagonists such as nifedipine, nicardipine, verapamil,         isradipine, nimodipine, amlodipine, felodipine, nisoldipine,         diltiazem, fendiline, flunarizine, perhexyline, gallopamil etc.;     -   diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide,         acetazolamide, amiloride, bumetanide, benzthiazide, etacrynic         acid, furosemide, indacrinone, metolazone, triamterene,         chlorthalidone, etc.;     -   aldosterone receptor blockers such as spironolactone,         eplerenone; endothelin receptor blockers such as bosentan;     -   phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as amrinone, sildenafil;     -   direct vasodilators such as dihydralazine, minoxidil, pinacidil,         diazoxide, nitroprusside, flosequinan etc.,     -   α- and β-receptor blockers such as phentolamine,         phenoxybenzamine, prazosin, doxazosin, terazosin, carvedilol,         atenolol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, timolol, carteolol         etc.;     -   neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitors;     -   sympatholytics such as methyldopa, clonidine, guanabenz,         reserpine         (ii) one or more agents having inotropic activity, as such for         example:     -   cardiac glycosides such as digoxin;     -   β-receptor stimulators such as dobutamine     -   thyroid hormone such as thyroxine         (iii) one or more agents having antidiabetic activity, as such         for example:     -   insulins such as insulin aspart, insulin human, insulin lispro,         insulin glargirie and further fast-, medium- and long-acting         insulin derivatives and combinations     -   insulin sensitizers such as rosiglitazone, pioglitazone;     -   sulphonylureas such as glimepiride, chlorpropamide, glipizide,         glyburide etc.;     -   biguanides such as metformin;     -   glucosidase inhibitors such as acarbose, miglitol;     -   meglitinides such as repaglinide, nateglinide;         (iv) one or more obesity-reducing ingredients, as such for         example:     -   lipase inhibitors such as orlistat;     -   appetite suppressants such as sibutramine, phentermine;         (v) one or more lipid-lowering ingredients, such as, for         example,     -   HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as lovastatin, fluvastatin,         pravastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin etc.;     -   fibrate derivatives such as fenofibrate, gemfibrozil etc.;     -   bile acid-binding active ingredients such as colestipol,         colestyramine, colesevelam     -   cholesterol absorption inhibitors such as ezetimibe     -   nicotinic acid such as niacin         and other agents which are suitable for the treatment of high         blood pressure, heart failure or vascular disorders associated         with diabetes and renal disorders, such as acute or chronic         renal failure, in humans and animals. Such combinations can be         used separately or in products which comprise a plurality of         components.

The compounds described herein and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts can additionally be used in combination with

-   -   (i) a diagnostic test system which permits quantitative         determination of the plasma aldosterone level (PAC, plasma         aldosterone concentration)     -   (ii) a diagnostic test system which permits quantitative         determination of the plasma renin level (PRC, plasma renin         concentration)     -   (iii) a diagnostic test system which permits quantitative         determination of the plasma renin activity (PRA, plasma renin         activity)     -   (iv) a diagnostic test system which permits quantitative         determination of the plasma aldosterone/renin level (ARC,         aldosterone renin concentration)     -   (v) a diagnostic test system which permits quantitative         determination of the plasma aldosterone/renin activity (ARR,         aldosterone to renin activity ratio)     -   (vi) a diagnostic test system which permits quantitative         determination of the plasma cortisol level (PCC, plasma Cortisol         concentration)

Such diagnosis-therapy combinations can be used separately or in products which comprise a plurality of components.

EXAMPLES

The following examples illustrate the present invention. All temperatures are stated in degrees Celsius, pressures in mbar. Unless mentioned otherwise, the reactions take place at room temperature. The abbreviation “Rf=xx(A)” means for example that the Rf is found in solvent system A to have the value xx. The proportion of solvents to one another is always stated in fractions by volume. Chemical names of end products and intermediates were generated with the aid of the AutoNom 2000 (Automatic Nomenclature) program.

HPLC gradients on Hypersil BDS C-18 (5 μm); column: 4×125 mm:

-   (I) 90% water 710% acetonitrile * to 0% water */100% acetonitrile *     in 5 minutes+2.5 minutes (1.5 ml/min) -   (II) 99% water 71% acetonitrile * to 0% water */100% acetonitrile *     in 10 minutes+2 minutes (1.5 ml/min)

HPLC gradients on Synergi 4 μm POLAR-RP 80A; column 4.60×100 mm:

-   (III) 90% water 710% acetonitrile * to 0% water */100%     acetonitrile * in 5 minutes+2.5 minutes (1.5 ml/min)     * contains 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid

The abbreviations used are as follows:

-   Rf ratio of distance traveled by a substance to distance of the     eluent from the starting point in thin-layer chromatography -   Rt retention time of a substance in HPLC (in minutes) -   m.p. melting point (temperature)

Example 1 4-(5,6-Dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)benzonitrile

A solution of 1.00 mmol of 1-(4-cyanophenyl)-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)ethyl methanesulphonate in 5 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide is mixed with 2.50 mmol of caesium carbonate and heated at 80° C. for 6 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×). The combined organic phases are dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is obtained from the residue as yellowish crystals by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F). Rf=0.61 (dichloromethane-methanol-25% aqueous ammonia solution 200:10:1); Rt=3.54 (gradient II).

The starting materials are prepared as follows:

a) 1-(4-Cyanophenyl)-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)ethyl methanesulphonate

4 mmol of triethylamine and 2.00 mmol of methanesulphonyl chloride are added to a solution of 1.00 mmol of 4-[1-hydroxy-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)ethyl]benzonitrile in 10 ml of dichloromethane at 0° C. The reaction mixture is stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour, diluted with dichloro-methane, washed with 1N HCl, dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The crude title compound is used without further purification in the next stage. Rf=0.43 (dichloromethane-methanol 95:5); Rt=4.46 (gradient I).

b1) 4-[1-Hydroxy-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)ethyl]-benzonitrile

Sodium borohydride is added in portions to a solution of 1 mmol of 4-[2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)acetyl]benzonitrile in 12 ml of ethanol at 0° C. The reaction solution is stirred at room temperature for 12 hours, then poured into ice-water and stirred for 15 minutes. The mixture is adjusted to pH 5 by adding glacial acetic acid and extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether (2×). The combined organic phases are washed with water and brine, dried over sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

c1) 4-[2-(1-Trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)acetyl]benzonitrile

A solution of 14 mmol of 4-iodobenzonitrile [3058-39-7] in 20 ml of tetrahydrofuran is cooled to −30° C., and 14.80 mmol of i-propylmagnesium chloride (2M in tetrahydrofuran) are added. The mixture is stirred at −30° C. for 60 minutes and a solution, precooled to −30° C., of 10.0 mmol of N-methoxy-N-methyl-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)acetamide in 30 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added. The mixture is stirred at −30° C. for 30 minutes, and then the reaction mixture is warmed to room temperature and quenched with saturated aqueous ammonium chloride, solution. The phases are separated, and the aqueous phase is extracted with ethyl acetate (3×). The combined organic phases are washed with brine, dried with magnesium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

d1) N-Methoxy-N-methyl-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)acetamide

A solution of 4.03 mmol of (1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)acetic acid and 4.44 mmol of N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride in 100 ml of dichloromethane is mixed with 20.2 mmol of triethylamine and 4.44 mmol of propanephosphonic acid cyclic anhydride [68957-94-8] (50% in ethyl acetate). The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 3 hours and diluted with dichloromethane. The phases are separated and the organic phase is washed with 1M HCl and brine, dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is obtained as a pale yellowish solid from the residue by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F). Rf=0.45 (dichloromethane-methanol 95:5); Rt=4.11 (gradient I).

e1) (1-Trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)acetic acid

A mixture of 1.0 mmol of ethyl (1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)acetate in 16 ml of tetra-hydrofuran and 16 ml of 2N NaOH is stirred under reflux for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled and the tetrahydrofuran is distilled off. 20 ml of 2N HCl are added to the aqueous residue, and the resulting suspension is diluted with tert-butyl methyl ether. The solid is filtered off and the filter cake is washed with water and tert-butyl methyl ether and dried. The title compound is obtained as a yellowish solid. Rf=0.02 (ethyl acetate-heptane 2:1);

Rt=3.86 (gradient I).

f) Ethyl (1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)acetate

58.0 mmol of sodium hydride (60% dispersion in paraffin) are added in portions to a solution of 30.0 mmol of (1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methanol [33769-07-2] in 300 ml of N,N-dimethyl-formamide at 20° C. The mixture is stirred at 20° C. for 1.5 hours. 50.0 mmol of ethyl bromo-acetate [105-36-2] and 6.00 mmol of potassium iodide are added, and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. A further 58.0 mmol of sodium hydride and 50 mmol of ethyl bromoacetate are added and the mixture is stirred again for 16 hours. The reaction mixture is poured into water and extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether (2×). The combined organic phases are washed with water and brine, dried with magnesium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is obtained as a brown oil from the residue by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F). Rf=0.20 (ethyl acetate-heptane 2:1), Rt=4.32 (gradient I).

Alternative syntheses for 4-[1-hydroxy-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)ethyl]benzonitrile:

b2) 4-[1-Hydroxy-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)ethyl]-benzonitrile

1.5 mmol of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (1M solution in tetrahydrofuran) are added to a solution of 1 mmol of 4-[1-(tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxy)-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)ethyl]benzonitrile in 5 ml of tetrahydrofuran, and the solution is stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The reaction solution is then diluted with water and extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether (2×). The combined organic phases are dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

c2) 4-[1-(tert-Butyldimethylsilanyloxy)-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)ethyl]benzonitrile

A solution of 1.27 mmol of titanium tetrachloride in 1.5 ml of dichloromethane is added to a solution of 2.61 mmol of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulphonate in 1 ml of dichloromethane at 0° C. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 4 hours and then cooled to 0° C. A solution of 0.83 mmol of 1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl (tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)(4-cyanophenyl)acetate and 4.17 mmol of triethylsilane in 2 ml of dichloromethane is added, and the reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 20 hours. The reaction mixture is poured into ice-water and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×). The combined organic phases are washed with water and brine; dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

d2) 1-Trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl (tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxy)(4-cyanophenyl)acetate

5.0 mmol of triethylamine and 1.0 mmol propanephosphonic acid cyclic anhydride [68957-94-8](50% in ethyl acetate) are added to a solution of 1.0 mmol of (1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methanol [33769-07-2] and 1.0 mmol of (tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxy)(4-cyanophenyl)acetic acid in 20 ml of dichloromethane. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 3 hours and diluted with dichloromethane. The phases are separated and the organic phase is washed with 1M HCl and brine, dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

e2) tert-Butyldimethylsilanyloxy)(4-cyanophenyl)acetic acid

A mixture of 1.0 mmol of methyl (tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxy)(4-cyanophenyl)acetate [435344-67-5] in 12 ml of tetrahydrofuran, 12 ml of methanol and 12 ml of water is mixed with 4 mmol of lithium hydroxide and stirred at 0° C. for 2 hours. 20 ml of 2N HCl are added to the reaction mixture, which is extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether (3×). The combined organic phases are washed successively with water and brine, dried with sodium sulphate, filtered and evaporated, and the crude title Compound is identified on the basis of the Rf. The crude title compound is used without further purification in the next stage.

b3) 4-[1-Hydroxy-2-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethoxy)ethyl]benzonitrile

20.0 mmol of sodium hydride (60% dispersion in paraffin) are added to a solution of 20.0 mmol of (1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methanol [33769-07-02] in 120 ml of absolute N,N-dimethylformamide under argon. The mixture is heated at 100° C. for 1 hour and then cooled to 40° C. A solution of 20.0 mmol of 4-oxiranylbenzonitrile [52695-39-3] in 10 ml of absolute N,N-dimethylformamide is added dropwise at 35-40° C., and the reaction mixture is stirred at 40° C. for 15 minutes. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, poured into ice-water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic phases are washed with water and brine, dried over sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is obtained as a white solid from the residue by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F). Rf=0.29 (dichloromethane-methanol 95:5); Rt=4.26 (gradient I).

The following compounds are prepared in analogy to the process described in example 1:

2 4-(5,6-Dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]thiazin-5-yl)benzonitrile

starting from (1-trityl-1H)-imidazol-4-ylmethylsulphanyl)acetic acid [478909-58-9].

6 4-(5,6-Dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)-2-fluorobenzonitrile

starting from 2-fluoro-4-iodobenzonitrile [137553-42-5].

7 5-(4-Nitrophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine

starting from 1-iodo-4-nitrobenzene [636-98-6].

9 5-(4-Methanesulphonylphenyl)-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine

starting from 1-iodo-4-methanesulphonylbenzene [64984-08-3].

10 4-(5,6-Dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)-2,6-difluorobenzonitrile

starting from 2,6-difluoro-4-iodobenzonitrile [14743-50-3].

11 4-(5,6-Dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)-2-methoxybenzonitrile

starting from 4-iodo-2-methoxybenzonitrile [677777-44-5].

12 5-Benzo[b]thiopen-3-yl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine

starting from 3-iodobenzo[b]thiophene [36748-88-6].

13 5-(7-Fluorobenzofuran-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine

starting from 3-bromo-7-fluorobenzofuran [1288851-92-3].

14 5-(4-Fluorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine

starting from 2-(4-fluorophenyl)oxirane [18511-62-1]. Beige solid. Rf=0.27 (dichloromethane-methanol 95:5); Rt=3.94 (gradient II).

15 5-(3,4-Difluorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-6H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine

starting from 2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)oxirane [111991-13-0]. Beige solid. Rf=0.31 (dichloromethane-methanol 95:5); Rt=4.20 (gradient II).

17 4-(5,6-Dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][0,4]oxazin-5-yl)-phthalonitrile

starting from 4-iodo-phthalonitrile [69518-17-8].

Example 3 4-(5-Methyl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)benzonitrile

2 mmol of zinc cyanide and 5 mol % of tetrakis (triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) are added to a solution of 1 mmol of 4-(5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)phenyl trifluoromethanesulphonate in 20 ml of toluene, and the mixture is degassed and heated at 120° C. for 20 hours. The reaction solution is cooled and stirred with water, and tert-butyl methyl ether. The phases are separated and the aqueous phase is extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether (2×). The organic phases are combined and evaporated to dryness. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

The starting materials are prepared as follows:

a) 4-(5-Methyl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)phenyl trifluoromethanesulphonate

2.2 mmol of N-phenylbis(trifluoromethanesulphonimide) and 2.5 mmol of triethylamine are added to a solution of 2 mmol of 4-(5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)phenol in 20 ml of dichloromethane under argon. The reaction solution is stirred at room temperature for 18 hours and then evaporated to dryness. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

b) 4-(5-Methyl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)phenol

A mixture of 3.6 mmol of 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]-oxazine and 10 ml of trimethylsilyl iodide in 40 ml of acetonitrile is heated to reflux for 24 hours. 10 ml of methanol are cautiously added and heating to reflux is continued for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture is evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

c) 5-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine

A mixture of 1.9 mmol of 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-5,6,8,8a-tetrahydro-1H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine and 3 g of manganese dioxide in 50 ml of toluene is heated to reflux for 3.5 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, the solid is filtered off through Hyflo, and the filtrate is evaporated. The crude title compound is obtained as a yellow oil from the residue and is employed without further purification in the next stage. Rf=0.31 (dichloromethane-methanol-25% aqueous ammonia solution 200:10:1), Rt=2.66 (gradient I)

d1) 5-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-5,6,8,8a-tetrahydro-1H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine

A solution of 31 mmol of C-[5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholin-3-yl]methylamine and 31 mmol of N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal in 50 ml of dichloromethane is heated to reflux for 6 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature and evaporated. The crude title compound is obtained as a yellow oil from the residue and is employed without further purification in the next stage, Rf=0.17 (dichloromethane-methanol-25% aqueous ammonia solution 200:20:1), Rt=2.61 (gradient I)

e1) C-[5-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholin-3-yl]methylamine

A mixture of 50 mmol of 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-5-[1-nitrometh-(Z)-ylidene]morpholine and 5 teaspoons full of Raney nickel in 500 ml of tetrahydrofuran and 250 ml of methanol is hydrogenated under atmospheric pressure for 5 hours. The reaction mixture is filtered through Hyflo and the filtrate is evaporated. The crude title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf. The title compound is employed without further purification in the next stage.

f1) 3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-5-[1-nitrometh-(Z)-ylidene]morpholine

A mixture of 100 mmol of [5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-[1,4]oxazin-3-yl]-N-nitroso-N-methylamine, 200 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide, 50 ml of nitromethane and 115 mmol of potassium tert-butoxide is stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. It is quenched by adding 20 ml of glacial acetic acid and diluted with dichloromethane and water. The organic phase is separated off, washed with water, dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

g) [5-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-[1,4]oxazin-3-yl]-N-nitroso-N-methylamine

125 mmol of sodium nitrite are added in portions to a solution of 100 mmol of [5-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-[1,4]oxazin-3-yl]methylamine in 200 ml of glacial acetic acid at room temperature. The reaction mixture is stirred for 1.5 hours. It is diluted with dichloro-methane and water. The organic phase is separated off, washed with water, dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography.

h) [5-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-[1,4]oxazin-3-yl]methylamine

A solution of 69.5 mmol of 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholin-3-one in 200 ml of tetrahydrofuran and 25 ml of benzene is cooled to 0° C. and saturated with methylamine. A solution of 19 g of titanium tetrachloride in 25 ml of benzene is added dropwise over the course of 15 minutes. After addition is complete, the reaction mixture is heated to reflux for 3 hours. The reaction mixture is then cooled to 0° C. and cautiously quenched with 60 ml of water. It is filtered through Hyflo, and the filter cake is washed several times with tetrahydro-furan. The phases of the filtrate are separated, and the organic phase is dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue oh the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

i) 5-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholin-3-one

A solution of 129.1 mmol of potassium tert-butoxide in 100 ml of tert-amyl alcohol is mixed at room temperature with 51.6 mmol of 2-chloro-N-[2-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-ethyl]acetamide and stirred for 3 hours. The reaction mixture is diluted with 50 ml of methanol and 3 ml of water and evaporated. The title compound is obtained as a white solid from the residue by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F). Rf=0.10 (ethyl acetate-heptane 2:1), Rt=2.81 (gradient I).

j), 2-Chloro-N-[2-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]acetamide

A solution of 57.5 mmol of 2-amino-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol in 190 ml of acetonitrile and 33 ml of methanol is cooled to −10° C., and 69 mmol of triethylamine and, dropwise over the course of 1 hour, 63.3 mmol of chloroacetyl chloride are successively added. The reaction mixture is warmed to room temperature and stirred for 16 hours. The mixture is evaporated, and the title compound is obtained as a colourless oil from the residue by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F). Rf=0.23 (ethyl acetate-heptane 2:1), Rt=2.88 (gradient I).

k) 2-Amino-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol

A solution of 15.0 mmol of 2-amino-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid [74279-63-3] in 15 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise to a suspension of 30.0 mmol of lithium aluminium hydride in 5 ml of tetrahydrofuran. The reaction mixture is heated to reflux for 1 hour. It is quenched with a little water and 1M NaOH and stilted at room temperature. The suspension is filtered through Hyflo. The filtrate is evaporated. The title compound is obtained as a pale yellowish oil, which may crystallize, and is employed without further purification in the next stage. Rt=1.97 (gradient I).

Alternative syntheses for C-[5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholin-3-yl]methylamine

e2) C-[5-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmoroholin-3-yl]-methylamine

A mixture of 40.1 mmol of 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholine-3-carbonitrile and 2 g of Raney nickel (activated by washing with water to pH 7 and subsequent washing with ethanol) in 200 ml of ethanol is hydrogenated under a pressure of 500 psi for 12 hours. The reaction mixture is filtered through Hyflo and the filtrate is evaporated. The crude title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf. The title compound is employed without further purification in the next stage.

f2) 5-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholine-3-carbonitrile

A solution of 160 mmol of lithium aluminium hydride (1M in hexane) in 750 ml of tetrahydro-furan is mixed at 0° C. with 7.8 ml of ethyl acetate and stirred at 0° C. for 2 hours. A solution of 20 mmol of 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholin-3-one (Example 3i) in 250 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise to this solution, and the reaction mixture is stirred at 0° C. for 45 minutes. 600 ml of glacial acetic acid and then 120 mmol of a 4.5M aqueous potassium cyanide solution are added. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. The reaction mixture is diluted with 1M sodium bicarbonate solution and extracted with ethyl acetate-tetrahydrofuran 1:1 (3×). The combined organic phases are washed with brine, dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is obtained as a pale yellowish oil from the residue by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F). Rf=0.19 (CH₂Cl₂-MeOH 95:5); Rt=2.41 (gradient I).

e3) C-[5-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholin-3-yl]methylamine

A solution of 2.25 mmol of 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylmorpholin-3-carbonitrile (Example 3f2) in 10 ml of tetrahydrofuran is cooled to 0-5° C. in an ice bath. 6.75 mmol of lithium aluminium hydride are added in portions, and the reaction mixture is then stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The reaction mixture is quenched with 0.5 ml of methanol and mixed with 40 ml of dichloromethane and 0.060 g of solid potassium carbonate, and 0.60 ml of water. The suspension is filtered through Hyflo and the filter cake is washed with dichloromethane. The filtrate is evaporated. The title compound is obtained as a colourless oil from the residue by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F). Rf=0.26 (dichloromethane-methanol-25% aqueous ammonia solution 200:20:1), Rt=2.13 (gradient I)

The following compounds are prepared in analogy to the process described in Example 3:

4 4-(5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]thiazin-5-yl)benzonitrile

starting from 2-amino-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1-thiol

The starting material is prepared as follows:

a) 2-Amino-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1-thiol

A solution of 1 mmol of 2-amino-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol (Example 3k) and 0.5 mmol of 2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,2,4-dithiadiphosphetane 2,4-disulfide (Lawesson's reagent) [19172-47-5] in 10 ml of toluene is heated to reflux for 2 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

5 4-(5-Ethyl-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)benzonitrile

starting from 4-(1-amino-1-hydroxymethylpropyl)benzonitrile [756440-42-3].

Example 8 5-[4-(1H-Tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl]-5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazine

A solution of 0.17 mmol of 4-(5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)benzonitrile (Example 1) and 0.017 nimbi of dibutyltin oxide in 4.6 ml of toluene is mixed with 3.34 mmol of trimethylsilyl azide. The reaction mixture is heated at 125° C. overnight. It is cooled to room temperature and evaporated. The title compound is identified from the residue on the basis of the Rf by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F).

16 1-[4-5,6-Dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1.4]oxazin-5-yl)phenyl]ethanone

0.47 mmol of methylmagnesium bromide solution (3M in diethyl ether) is added to a suspension of 0.47 mmol of 4-(5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)benzonitrile (Example 1) in 5 ml of absolute toluene. The reaction mixture is heated to reflux for 16 hours, cooled and mixed with dilute aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. The mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate-dichloromethane 4:1, and the combined organic phases are washed with brine, dried with sodium sulphate and evaporated. The title compound is obtained as a slightly whitish solid from the residue by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 60F). Rf=0.34 (dichloromethane-methanol 95:5); Rt=3.54 (gradient II).

Example 18 4-(5,6-Dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)benzonitrile

The racemic compound 4-(5,6-dihydro-8H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]oxazin-5-yl)benzonitrile (Example 1) is fractionated into the enantiomers by chiral preparative HPLC. The title compound is isolated as the enantiomer which elutes second. Rt*=11.39 min.

*HPLC method:

Column: 250×50 mm CHIRALPAK® AD 20 μm

Mobile phase: CO₂/methanol 80:20

Flow rate: 240 ml/min

Detection: UV 250 nm

Temperature: 25° C.

Pressure: 150 bar 

1. A compound of the formula

in which R is deuterium, halogen or hydrogen; R¹ is aryl-C₀-C₄-alkyl or heterocyclyl-C₀-C₄-alkyl, which radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₈ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted aryl wherein the optional substituents on the aryl are C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₈ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted aryl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, tri-C₁-C₄ alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, optionally substituted heterocyclyl wherein the optional substituents on the heterocyclyl are C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₈ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted aryl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, oxo, tri-C₁-C₄, alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, nitro, oxide, oxo, tri-C₁-C₄-alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl; R² is a) deuterium, halogen, hydroxy, cyano or hydrogen; or b) C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl-C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₄ alkylcarbonyl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkyl, carboxy-C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl-C₀-C₄ alkyl, which radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₀-C₈ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, optionally substituted aryl, aryl-C₀-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, halogen, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, hydroxy, nitro, oxo, tri-C₁-C₄ alkylsilyl, trifluoromethoxy or trifluoromethyl; Q is oxygen; m is 1; n is 1; and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. A compound according to claim 1, which corresponds to the formula

where the meanings of the substituents R, R¹, R², Q, m and n are as indicated for compounds of the formula (I) according to claim 13, and * designates an asymmetric carbon atom and which compound shows an aldosterone synthase and/or 11-β-hydroxylase inhibitory activity at least 10 times higher, but preferably 20 times higher, or more preferably 40 times higher, than the compound of the formula (Ia) with the opposite configuration around the asymmetric carbon atom labelled “*”.
 3. A compound according to claim 1, where R is deuterium or hydrogen.
 4. A compound according to claim 1, where R¹ is optionally mono-, di- or tri-substituted phenyl or optionally mono-, di- or tri-substituted benzofuranyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, benzoimidazolyl, benzo[d]isothiazolyl, benzo[d]isoxazolyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, imidazolyl, indazolyl, oxazolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl or thiophenyl.
 5. A compound according to claim 1, where R² is C₁-C₈ alkoxy, hydroxy, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl-CC₄ alkyl, deuterium, halogen, cyano or hydrogen.
 6. A method for delaying the progression or for the treatment of pathological states which are caused or partly caused by hyperaldosteronism, where a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 1 is used, wherein the pathological state is hypertension.
 7. A method for delaying the progression or for the treatment of pathological states which are caused or partly caused by hyperaldosteronism, where a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 2 is used, wherein the pathological state is hypertension.
 8. A method for delaying the progression or for the treatment of pathological states which are caused or partly caused by excessive cortisol release, where a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 1 is used, wherein the pathological state is Cushing's Syndrome.
 9. A method for delaying the progression or for the treatment of pathological states which are caused or partly caused by excessive cortisol release, where a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 2 is used, wherein the pathological state is Cushing's Syndrome.
 10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 1, and conventional excipients.
 11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 2, and conventional excipients.
 12. A pharmaceutical composition in the form of a product or of a kit composed of individual components consisting a) of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 1, and b) at least one pharmaceutical form whose active ingredient has a blood pressure-lowering, an inotropic, a metabolic or a lipid-lowering effect.
 13. A pharmaceutical composition in the form of a product or of a kit composed of individual components consisting a) of a compound of the formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to claim 2, and b) at least one pharmaceutical form whose active ingredient has a blood pressure-lowering, an inotropic, a metabolic or a lipid-lowering effect. 